said about , or the TPG deal - so who knows what the future holds ? In case you haven’t already heard about it here is the Gilera ‘compact’. Initially a 50cc Thanks to everyone for making the AGM a twist and go model which may eventually success - the best ever attendance ! The appear in 180cc four-stroke automatic good news - Les Wassall has taken over as guise. What a head-turner - but just Membership Secretary (see back page for imagine what a 750 four-stroke ‘bialbero’ contact details). The bad news - Andy new Nordwest could have looked like or a Wallington is unable to continue as conventional 125 two-stroke GFR powered Treasurer so we need a volunteer. Don’t bike with this styling ?

The Gilera ‘Compact’

wait for the AGM next year, get in touch You should all find 1999/2000 NOW ! Oh and I might as well warn you membership cards enclosed with this issue now I want to stand down next year so a and all being well the Membership List will new Secretary/Editor or even better be published in late October. By the way perhaps Secretary and Editor will be the excuse for this issue being late is a bout needed. of bronchitis just as it was nearing completion :( I have been holding back publication of this issue in hopes of momentous news from the Milan Show. However, at least as far as MCN are concerned nothing was Dave Riley Claudia Cruttwell Dik Stapley Robin Sims Nigel Lee Ian Hambly

Minutes of the last meeting

The minutes of the meeting held at the Minutes of the sixth ‘Blue Bell’, Belchford on 5 July 1998 having been published in GeN#17, Dick Stapley Annual General proposed and David Riley seconded that Meeting of the Gilera they be accepted as a true record. Network held at the Chairman’s Report

‘Stewponey’, Stourton, David Champion reported that paid up membership currently stood at 110 but Worcs. on 22 August that this usually grew each year by renewal 1999. time to around 130. Bikes were still changing hands quite frequently.

The meeting opened at 2.20 and soon had The future looks very interesting. Gilera an all time record attendance of 18 will continue to manufacture sports members. The Chairman opened the scooters and lightweight . The meeting by welcoming everyone to the Runner is selling well and a new twist and ‘Stewponey’ and explaining why the go ‘compact’ model will be announced at meeting had not been held in conjunction the Milan show. Also to be announced will with the Cadwell track day this year. be the fact that Piaggio have a designer working on three large capacity machines Apologies for absence for 2002. They will be a 1000cc four, a large trail bike and another ‘sports bike’. The Beth Davidson four will feature a Honda engine in a Pete Myers chassis designed by . Andy Wallington Piaggio has been acquired by the Texas Les Wassall Pacific Group. This is an investment company who see the potential for Members present merchandising associated with the sale of motorcycles. What effect the purchase will David Champion have on the situation regarding the supply Pete Fisher of spare parts is unclear. Roger Meadows At this point Rob Thorne interjected by Gary Cooper suggested updated bodywork for the Ian Robinson Nordwest. The Chairman referred him to Gary Menzies Dick Stapley. Keith Spackman There will be no more four stroke single Alan Jeffery (‘bialbero’) powered . The tooling Rob Pearce and design has been sold to Guzzi and it Rob Thorne seems unlikely that they will ever use it. Ritchie Round Mike Riley The tooling for most of the engines (including the GFR) has been lost except PRO’s Report for the 50cc (RK50) motor. In the absence of Ian Calvert, Pete Fisher reported that the PRO had not, as had been hoped, had the opportunity to publicise Treasurer’s Report the Gilera Network in conjunction with press releases by the factory to mark the In the absence of Andy Wallington, Pete 90th Anniversary. Fisher reported that The Gilera Network is financially secure with around £2000 in Secretary/Editor’s Report the bank, the the main outgoings being the production of the newsletter, BMF Pete Fisher reported that the cost of affiliation and Public Liability Insurance. producing the newsletter was happily staying the same and that improved David Champion said that Piaggio were services available from Office World has keen to foster liaison with clubs and hoped reduced the task of publishing ‘The GeN’. to offer increased support. David pointed The usual problem of filling it with out that the possibility that Piaggio might material remained ! want to exercise more control over our activities should be recognised. They He explained that the Internet site could certainly were not prepared to support a be much improved and developed if separate club for Runner owners and gave someone had the time. Pete confirmed the example of resistance to the formation that the domain gilera.co.uk was owned by of a club for Piaggio automatic scooters him personally but was registered to the separate to the club. This should not Gilera network. Should Piaggio indicate present a problem so long as we are aware that they considered that an official Gilera of the situation. web site should be operated by them he would be happy to give up the rights to that The Cadwell track day appears to have at domain, but would suggest that Piaggio least broken even, but it is too early to be should pay for the Network to use sure of the exact outcome. gilera.org instead.

Accounts will be published in Gen#22. Election of officers [SEE PAGE 17] Ian Robinson proposed and Mike Riley Membership Secretary’s Report seconded that the committee be re-elected en-bloc with the substitution of Les Pete Fisher reported that Pete Myers did Wassall as Membership Secretary. This was not wish to remain in this position. He carried unanimously. confirmed that a steady flow of membership enquiries are received which Subscription Rates pretty much matches the rate of non-renewal. This is largely explained by The subscription rate having stood at £9 the change of hands in machines with for the last four years the Secretary asked particularly some Nordwests being in the the meeting if it should be increased. The hands of the second or third owner. Chairman proposed that in view of the healthy bank balance it should remain the Pete gave the meeting the happy news that same. Les Wassall had volunteered to take up the post. Claudia Crutwell proposed that a family membership should be introduced. Rob Pearce stated out that production with Bob Wright other one-make clubs had was put forward. rates between £15-20. The Secretary pointed out that Claudia Crutwell’s proposal other clubs often had for a family membership was monthly magazines produced seconded by Mike Riley. This to a higher quality was carried unanimously with (presentation rather than the rate to be set 1.5 times the content !). standard rate (i.e. £15).

Rob suggested that the extra Any other business subscription could be used to build up a fund to start a The Secretary asked if spares scheme. This would be not for members were happy with the present buying existing spares but for arranging for system of membership renewal for all at the manufacture of unobtainable parts. the same time. The pros and cons were David pointed out that many parts were considered and the feeling was that the common with other machines. The system should stay the same. cam-belt design is registered but it should be easy to get them produced when the Rob Pearce suggested that the Membership time comes. Secretary could pay in subscription cheques received to speed up the process. ? (Sorry should have asked the name) suggested a census of parts required most Mike Riley suggested that the Spring by members and enquired about the Gathering should be at a new venue in availability of standard silencers. David view of the problem with parking. Pete explained that Gazelle supplied a stainless Fisher said that he would ask for unit which was appropriately marked. suggestions in the next ‘GeN’. Many parts were produced by subcontractors. David has approached the David Riley asked about the position factory in Italy regarding the unavailability regarding the use of unleaded fuel, David of standard silencers. champion confirmed that all Nordwests and RC600s were OK on unleaded. All David Champion proposed and Mike Riley other models were not intended for seconded that the subscription should unleaded use. He recommended the use of remain unchanged. a good additive such as Morris’s and to keep a close eye on valve clearances. The Rob Pearce proposed and Dick Stapley GFR and other high performance 2-strokes seconded that subscriptions should need high octane fuel and will require an increase to £10. For the first time in the octane booster or Lead Replacement history of the Gilera Network there was a Petrol. High mileage engines which will vote ! Rob Pearce’s proposal was voted on now not be used much may be OK for and received 13 votes for, 4 against and 1 some time. abstention. David Riley proposed a vote of thanks to he Further discussion of spares production committee. followed. It was pointed out that there were only around 250 Nordwests and Pete Fisher said that it was not yet clear 50-60 Saturnos imported, but that we what arrangements would be made for the should think about supplying parts on an AGM in 2000 and that this may depend on international basis. The possibility of the Cadwell (or other venue ?) track day. entering into matched funding of part The meeting closed at 4.30 pm.  Raymond Ainscoe

Can I recommend a new Duke video, The Mike Riley Great Italian Racers. It is produced by  David Wood (whose firm used to do the Castrol TT films of the 50s and 60s, and Julie and I would like to announce the great then the famous Yamaha films of the 70s), news of the birth of our second child. and covers the Italian racing marques from 1949 to 1976 - , , , Luke Steven was born on February 18th. He MV, Mondial etc. I am undoubtedly biased; is a delight to all the family and constant first, because I wrote the majority of the amusement to Leeana who is by now trying script; second because it includes lots of to teach him the skills of knee down lovely Gileras ! cornering on the pedal/push along trike ! Much of the 90 minutes has never been Talking of trikes - the growing family could seen before. Apart from what you would probably do with one of these Gilera motor expect (Masetti, Milani etc.), there are carts for shopping expeditions . wonderful shots of the Gilera of the 1950s, the Guzzi V8s and the Gileras On to things ‘Nordwest’ - due to stricter from Imola 1957 and some fantastic film of MoT tests the front headlight is half Florian Camathias on the Gilera s/c in the covered by a go-faster carbon fibre 1964 TT. Not to be missed. blanking sticker to alter the beam angle as the bulb mod. Was not sufficient, is anyone

else having the same problem ?  Damon Singh [Apologies for not putting Mike’s letter in GeN#21 - it got ‘lost’ in the move - Ed.] After reading probably one of the first articles reviewing the Gilera Nordwest back in “Fast Bikes” magazine in 1991, I especially hard working “Big Singles” and finally got round to buying one privately in enduro machines. November last year. Since then I’ve had my fair share of problems with the bike. The Fork seals have been changed and the rear first one being the usual starting problem of sprocket costing only £20 from B&C the engine firing up then cutting out due to express (01522 791369). It’s an original itself flooding with too much choke. I fitment as well. The rear Corsa has not decided to adopt the method of gradually lasted long at all, and had to be replaced pulling the choke out while starting the with a Dunlop GPR70 tyre (£89 from engine. Once running, immediately push Watling Tyres 0181 690 3366) even though the choke in enough to keep it running I’ve still got a Corsa on the front. So far the above idle, and then ride the bike. After GPR70 takes a while to warm up and is riding for about 30 seconds, push the choke quite sticky. I haven’t noticed much in and all is well. I also replaced the spark difference with the handling at all. You can plug with a NGK DPR9EVX-9 platinum still apply the science of physics around tipped v-grooved plug. Since doing this the corners. Would anybody recommend bike has never cut out on me. fitting a GPR70 to the front; any suggestions?

The front and rear brake switches both The indicators have been replaced with packed up on me at the same time, which I mini indicators from M&P in Swansea. thought was a bit strange, only to find that Word of warning though, the bulbs the contacts inside the front switch had supplied are too powerful for the Nordwest corroded, as well as the little outer spade so they stay on and don’t flash at all. I had terminals on the rear switch. Since to cut the bulb and holder off and solder replacing them, I have packed grease into the original 10w bulbs directly to the the dust covers protecting the wires from existing remaining wires. I also added tin moisture. foil to the backing of the indicators as there is no reflector given. Also fitted on my The starter clutch mechanism has rattled Nordwest are anodised bolts from “Braided since owning the bike, so I decided to strip Steel” (01386 849060). These include the assembly down to find the clutch spring engine casing bolts. I had to measure all the had stretched. I replaced the spring with a bolts separately and if needed can give the spring from a Yamaha front fork oil seal sizes to anybody else. (part no - 4KG2314500 ). I think it is an Exup oil seal. I didn’t need to join it to make Finally many thanks to David Champion it bigger as it was already big enough. The (advice/workshop sheets) and Bob wright starter clutch has been trouble free since (parts) over the past year. and that was about 2 - 3000 miles ago. What I did find though, was that the rolled Happy biking everybody ! over spring cover that had to be bent apart to remove the spring from its casing had to be spot welded after re-assembly, just to make sure it would not come off again even though I managed to bend it back to original shape. I replaced the oil at the same time with Silkolene Comp 4, which is a semi-synthetic high performance 4-stroke oil for use in all modern engines NORDWEST / RC 600 KICK START Part Number 60.02 Description and Notes Item

. 319244 1 WASHER . 006420 2 CIRCLIP . 321462 3 NYLON SLEEVE . 321811 4 SPRING . 328906 16 SHAFT ASSEMBLY + 324705 40 KICK START LEVER ASSEMBLY for RC600. + 952319 40 KICK START LEVER ASSEMBLY for NORDWEST. . 321926 31 BOLT. For Kick Start Lever 324705. (RC600) . 319148 31 BOLT. For Kick Start Lever 952319. (NORDWEST) . 328170 21 DE-COMPRESSOR LEVER . 947123 22 RETURN SPRING. For #21 . 322512 - SEAL for AUTO DECOMP. SHAFT. See page 61.01 item 5. . 321270 - SEAL for KICK START SHAFT. See page 61.01 item 6. (20x32x7) . 947245 - GASKET. For clutch cover. . 321984 20 BOLT. Return stop . 319311 19 WASHER. For #20 # 324606 18 CABLE # 005967 23 CIRCLIP # 316144 24 WASHER # 328907 25 LEVER # 321921 26 SPRING # 319303 27 NUT. This must be an all metal stiff nut # 003056 28 WASHER # 321606 29 LEVER # 321982 30 SPRING # 321926 32 OPERATING LEVER

REFER TO ILLUSTRATION IN PARTS CATALOGUE PAGE 60.02 + Use one or other. .The RC600 kick start which is a plain light grey colour and matches the RC engine should only be used with RC600. You need to use the RC600R kick start if you are fitting it to a Nordwest because the Nordwest and RC600R both use the same type of footrest so the lever should clear everything. The RC600 lever will not clear the Nordwest footrest.

# These items are needed only if you fit the original “Auto De-compressor” system If you intend to use a handlebar mounted de-compressor lever you do not need any of the parts marked #. You should be able to buy a suitable handlebar lever from a motor cross or trials specialist. You will have to make up a suitable cable.

• The pin that items 23 – 26 fit onto must be already fitted in your clutch cover. It is not available separately. If you do not have it then you must use a handlebar mounted de-compressor lever. It should be there but please check before ordering the parts. • As far as I know all these part numbers are correct and are available. • Do get a quote for the cost before ordering because these parts do add up to a lot of money.

Fitting a KICK START NORDWEST or RC600’ 92 • It would take pages to give a complete step by step guide. I am not sure I could make it a complete guide so here are some useful notes. • Spend some time looking at the bits so you can understand what is involved. • There is no machining or re-engineering required. • No special tools are required. • The job can be done with the engine in the frame. • First obtain all the parts. • You can work with the bike on the side stand. • Drain the engine oil. • Remove the r/h footrest assy. (Nordwest) or Remove the sub frame assy. (RC 600). • Remove the Tank. • Remove the Cam belt cover. • Set the engine to TDC on the firing stroke as if you were going to change the cam belt. • Disconnect the clutch cable from the engine end. • Remove the clutch cover. • Remove the two blanking plugs from the cover. Fit the oil seals. You only remove the kick shaft one if you are not fitting the auto decompressor. • If fitting the auto decompressor. Fit the valve lifter levers into the case. Use locktite on the threads. • From the l/h side of the bike remove the “Allen” type blanking bolt. It is near the centre of the engine and in front of the rear suspension unit. • Remove the upper half of the rocker box. Be very careful not to disturb the head or head gasket. There will not be anything holding the head down and if you are careless you may find you have to replace the head gasket (engine out etc!) • Note the small pin that retains the valve lifter blank. Remove the pin and pull out the blank. • Replace the blank with the valve lifter arm and spring. Make sure you put the pin back. Note there is no oil seal on the lifter arm, it does not get much oil so grease it well before fitting. • Refit the rocker box half. There is no paper gasket, use a little liquid “Instant gasket” (Not silicon). Carefully torque the head bolts. • Assemble the components on the shaft as the diagram shows. Make sure you get the washers in the correct places. • Spend some time studying the way that the shaft goes in and works. Note that the drag spring (item 8) can fit into two positions the one that looks as if it is made for it is the wrong one. It should be in the place at the bottom that is slightly too large. Get the shaft behind the clutch and then put the shaft through the cover and attach the kick-start. As you push the cover / shaft in, check that it is all going to be in place correctly. Once in, you wind the kick-start up far enough to fit the stop bolt (item 20). Now you should be able to prove it works. If it is ok remove it, fit the cover gasket with some grease to hold it in place and reassemble it. • If you are using the auto decompressor. Fit the cable and adjust it. You will need to bend the brake switch operating wire to clear the cable. How to Kick Start a Big Single

If you are not familiar with kick starting a big single it will be very frustrating and hard work. Once you get used to the technique it is not hard and should be a reliable method of getting the engine going.

Trust me, it is not that hard, and you won’t end up with one leg twice the size of the other. It is all a bit of a Zen experience and approaching your bike with a warm, friendly and positive attitude will definitely help. Oh yes, and never try to hurry.

A full swing of the kickstart lever will only get the piston over compression once so it is important that you start with the piston in the right place. If you start with the piston just past compression then it will have almost two complete revolutions to build up speed before it gets to compression again. It is not your strength that gets it over compression, it is the momentum. So being weak and feeble is no excuse.

The trick is to imagine where piston is while you are setting it up.

1. Push kickstart down until it stops (because the piston is coming up to compression).

2. Let lever back to the top.

3. Push the lever down a short distance (no more than 1/4 of the total travel) This is to get the piston just past tdc on the firing stroke. (if you have a valve lifter lever you will need to use this to get over compression)

4. Let the lever back to the top.

5. Give the lever a firm kick all the way to the bottom. You must get your weight behind it and do not stab at it. The technique is to jump up slightly and kick down as you reach the top of your jump. Your weight will help the power of your kick.

Some important do’s and don’ts.

Put the lever in the instep of your foot not under your toes.

Never completely straighten your leg in case the engine (if you have a valve lifter lever you will need to use this to get over compression) kicks back.

I believe all this. I always use the kick start on my Saturno and RC600. The RC has not even had an electric start for the last nine months. OBITUARY GAVIN LEE [email protected]

The most important news is that the G_Net Mailing List has been discontinued and reborn in a new guise. The list is now a ‘community’ at ONELIST. Messages are now automatically forwarded to list members without any action by me and the only ‘price’ is a three line sponsorship message It was with great sadness that I only appended on the end. All members (nearly recently learned that Gavin lost his life at 40) of the old list have been invited to join the Southern 100 races on the Isle of Man the new arrangement and [email protected] in July in a multiple pile up at Williams has now been officially closed. Corner on the first lap. Gavin was involved with Gloucester Racing (formerly You can subscribe to the new list by the Gloucester Kawasaki Race Team) on many following routes: occasions. Alan Warner of Gloucester Racing says of Gavin: 1 go to http://www.onelist.com/community/gilera “ A very unassuming and polite young man 2 send a message to whose riding has always been described as [email protected] smooth and extremely quick. His TT results are to be admired as Gavin was always SCOOP ! struggling for backing. In my opinion he was the top privateer in the country.

I am fairly sure that the first published Gavin rode with us on the Continent pictures of the new ‘compact’ machine several times and appeared on the rostrum appeared at www.gilera.co.uk. Mario many times. He was competing against top Santucci, head of new product design at semi works riders, all of whom had a great Pontedera emailed me photos of these respect for this quietly spoken young man amazing pocket rockets at the same time as on his home tuned TZ250. ” Piaggio UK received the official news. After checking with David I had them available on Gilera enthusiasts will remember Gavin for the web server the same night ! taking his father Brian’s standard Saturno to 13th place in the 1994 TT singles race. The news of the TPG bid was a better kept secret, but if I hear any rumours from our I am grateful to Alan Warner for his members round the world of what this may permission to reproduce parts of his tribute mean for Gilera (the German press often to Gavin on his Web Site: seem well informed) I will post them on the Http://www.zyworld.com/ttgrandad the site. PSF must look right first. The back panels were cut down and an Ex-Up twin headlight unit was skilfully fitted in place of the rather ugly original square unit. A quick re-spray The AGM was our most successful yet and and it was ready to go and get dirty. Dick we have to thank Pete for making it had some photos of their exploits happen. When it became apparent that we including his custom paint job lying on it's were not going be at Cadwell in bulk this side on a very muddy track! It is good that a year we had to find an alternative venue lot of Gileras still get "used", that's what for the AGM. It sounded easy right up until they were made for. we tried to think of somewhere. Pete suggested a pub a few miles from his house, this turned out to be an excellent plan. The Gilera - The Future. pub said we could have a room for free, this turned out to be a bar that normally did not open on Sunday afternoon so we had A lot is happening at Piaggio and the future lunch and a pint right there when we for Gilera looks as if it may be rather good. needed it, magic. The location suited a lot of you and we had the biggest turn out ever. First thing is that Piaggio is being bought by Texas Pacific (TP). They are the American Several of us stayed at Pete & Alison's new investment company who bought a large house on Saturday night and then we went lump of Ducati a few years ago. Because out for a ride on Sunday morning. One or Piaggio only had a couple of share holders two of us got a bit worried as the roads got it was easy for TP to buy the lot! We will narrower and grass started to appear up the have to wait and see what their middle, maybe letting a RC600 lead was intervention means to the company. I not a good idea! No worries we didn't end understand they are keen to allow existing up in a disused quarry, we ended up at a plans to continue. The way companies like café car park full of bikes. After a cuppa TP make money for their investors is to buy and some wildly exaggerated stories about a company (at the right price) then give it our biking exploits (well mine were) it was capital to develop its full potential and time to get to the pub. Thirteen Gileras then when it has become successful they were in the car park by the time we opened sell their holding at a huge profit. This the meeting. Nordwests, Saturnos an XRT process is typically expected to offer a 600 an RC600 a GFR and a 180 Runner. return on investments within ten years. It may sound a bit unfeeling and mercenary Thank you to everyone who attended and but that is business. If it means that Piaggio also on behalf of everyone who stayed at get the cash they need to survive and Penn's number one guest house, may I say a develop Gilera then it can not be a bad big thank you to Alison and Pete for their thing. wonderful hospitality. Piaggio have a well planned strategy and I am sure TP will be wanting to see that rush Altogether a thoroughly enjoyable ahead at full speed. Some of that future is weekend. I had a good ride up and back the development of the Gilera brand. through the very pleasant countryside of Oxfordshire and Staffordshire (more At the NEC this year we should see a range magic). of Gileras including four new machines.

A while back Dick Stapley bought an XRT The "Compact" twist and go automatic 600 with the intention of doing a bit of . The Coguar 125 custom and green lane riding, Now Dick is not the kind the H@K 50 trail bike and GSM 50 mini of guy who just buys a bike and rides it. It super motard. The Compact must be the most exciting of these. It represents the beginning of something totally new, twist Front Brake Light and go technology applied to a Switch. Nordwest, motorcycle. Early next year we will get the 50cc two stoke using the water-cooled unit RC600, GFR from the Runner 50. Don't knock it, a de-restricted Runner will do over 60 on the flat! Later in the year there will be a 125 A lot of Italian bikes use a common design and 180 versions and they should be grin of brake light switch, which is a round factor ten. brass barrel that screws into the lever Rumour has it that Piaggio may be aiming assembly. They look nice but they are not to go "all four stroke" and that could mean the most durable design in the world. A that the Runner and Compact 125 / 180 year or so back the manufacture using the all new water cooled four valve redesigned the switch and the new one is "Leader" engine. The 180 is claimed to be as much better with self cleaning contacts. powerful as the current 180 two stroke so Good news? Well not quite. that could be fun and I am sure it won't take Malossi long to work out how to make On the Nordwest etc The switch screws it go really fast! It only needs an extra five into the brake lever mounting very close to or six horse power to get to 100mph. the master cylinder and there is only just Piaggio should have a Leader engine on enough room to get the rubber boot over show at the NEC. No official statement has the switch. The new style switch is larger been made yet but I don't think a four diameter and will not fit. The problem here stroke will be a bad thing. is that they have stopped supplying the old style. The good news is that I have a supply I had hoped to be able to give you a road of old style switches. test report of one of the 50's but it has not arrived at Piaggio yet so maybe next time. If you need one send me a cheque for £5 made payable to D. Champion. The other news is that Piaggio have already More recent bikes that use this switch have employed people to start developing a room for the new switch. Runner and SKP range of large motorcycles! I think this was scooters use them and as far as I know they supposed to be announced at the Milan have always been supplied with the new show but it found its way into the press style switch. some weeks ago. Talking of things for sale I still have the The plan is to launch three Gilera bikes in following: 2002. They will use Honda engines and chassis designed by Bimota. One should be Embroidered patches at £2.50 yellow logo a four cylinder super sports and one a large on black or red. trail bike. I don't know which engines Red base ball cap with logo in white. £2.50 might be used but Honda do have some one size fits all. good products. We will have to wait and Red tee shirt with logo in white on left see but I think this could be rather breast £ 5.00 size XL or XXL only. exciting. I expect MCN will have the usual Pin, rectangular with circles and Gilera artist's impressions next week but we will name gold on red £0.50. have to wait a bit longer to see what they I still have the bits to make up one or two will really look like. As always: Watch this handlebar choke conversions for space. Nordwest or RC 600. Call me if you are interested Cheques to D. Champion please. Nordwest Silencers

Bob Wright has recently received a batch of Arrow stainless steel silencers. They are not loud but they are not BSI stamped. Most MOT stations do not worry about BSI numbers providing the silencer is not too loud and I have never heard of anyone getting nicked with a sensible silencer just because it is not stamped. A nice policeman on a BMW scrutinised my Renegade can a few months ago but he said nothing, and that is loud! And it has got through an MOT, the tester started the bike, looked at the silencer and said "ah yes that must be the original silencer" If it’s original they do not have to look for after-market type-approval. You will be ok unless your can says "for race use only" on it.

 David Champion Nordwest/Saturno Yes - the secretarial Saturno has to go. Why ? - wet rot & woodworm (not Classic Mechanics in the bike !). Show Built originally by John Rushworth as a modern ‘cafe racer’ and recently Stafford 16/17 featured in ‘Streetfighters’ magazine. October Late spec. Nordwest motor in 92 J Saturno cycle parts. Gas-flowed head, twin Keihin CR35’s = 50 BHP at the rear wheel. Inductive ignition. Elliot tacho with ‘shifter We will be having a stand light’. again at this show so come along and see us. Even better, As you can see from the photo it is very shiny. if you have an interesting MoT to April 2000. machine you could put on Some spares available. display for the weekend get in touch ( £5 expenses £3250 o.n.o payable !). Phone Pete Fisher on 01902 337626 for more details. Owning an RC600 from new

NORDWEST Well almost. Bought from Bevans in Cardiff in the summer of 96 with only 980 Km on 1994 L reg blue, good condition, the clock the bike wasn’t run in - it was 17,000km, full history and almost new. Having used the bike for many journeys and to and from work I found the services. New chain, sprockets and main fault was a small fuel tank, giving an tyres (hi sports) at 14,000km. approx range of 180/190 Km. I looked to Recent new battery. see if an after market large tank was Workshop manual, parts list and available but to no avail. After asking around I found a tank maker who said he spare alloy silencer. would have a look at making a larger tank to fit on the original mountings. After four months he made it. The tank now filled is a £2,400 total of 18 litres, giving 2 litres in reserve Tel. Oliver on 0171 251 5318 and approx 320 Km before reserve. If anybody wants the tank maker’s address I (please leave message if no-one in) can supply it. or e-mail at: [email protected]. After 15000 Km changed the cam belt which was easy and oil in about an hour. For most of the bike’s life it has been fitted with a scottoiler and the chain after 25000 Km was due for renewal with the GFR sprockets. Having just done that I have L reg. Taxed & MoT May 2000, geared up a little. I am now running 8000 miles, many new parts, standard gearbox and 41 rear making the bike a bit better on the faster roads. Approx university forces sale. 4500 rpm at 70 mph. The hubs on this machine may be of Japanese origin making £1700 o.n.o. it easier to get rear sprockets. Same as Martin Woodyatt 01789 296232 Honda XL 250/600 is one instance but (Warwickshire) there are many applications for this sprocket with teeth numbers from 38 to 53. My sprocket and pattern sprockets supplied by Sprockets Unlimited 01386 831341, who are very helpful. I now use Regina HO gold chain, non-o-ring as I have fitted a scottoiler. So we shall see how long it lasts. I have some long journeys planned for the future.

 Rob Pearce

Rob Pearce’s big tanked RC at the BMF Show PROVISIONAL GILERA NETWORK ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD 04/07/98 - 01/08/99 (Final accounts will be published in GeN#23)

INCOME £ EXPENDITURE £ [1]Subscriptions/back issues 1319.45 Photocopying/collation 245.61 Morini Club (98 Cadwell) 302.00 Postage 271.17 Stafford Show Expenses 25.00 BMF affiliation 129.00 Bank Interest 12.89 Insurance 112.00 Bob Wright Advert 40.00 BMF Rally Stand 112.81 Stationery 138.86 Morini Club (98 AGM) 200.00 Display equipment 46.01 Stafford Show Expenses 25.00 Total 1699.34 Total 1280.46 [2] Surplus 418.88 NOTES: [1] estimated figure not including income since 22/6/99 [3] Cash in bank 23/6/99 1961.95 [2] estimate - see [1] [3] latest figure available to Secretary

as it has steel bush pressed inserts NORDWEST FRONTIER which take the drive. Bob Wright confirmed that a 13 tooth gearbox It has been a pretty quiet hill climb sprocket is an option (mine was fitted season for me this year what with the with a 14) and even found me a good house move and TT trip. My first outing second hand one to give it a try. wasn’t until May Day weekend at Oliver’s Mount. I decided that the GFR Fitting a new gearbox sprocket is a might be quite fun on such a fast longish doddle isn’t it ? It took me three days, an hill so I set about preparing it. electric impact wrench, liberal use of blow torch followed by plus gas and a Over the winter I had repaired the two foot ‘breaker bar’ to persuade the bottom fairing mount, renewed all the gearbox sprocket nut off ! Anyway, the chewed up rubber bonded nut fairing smaller sprocket made the bike mountings and replaced the oil seal on noticeably easier to get moving so it was the gear change shaft. A new expansion worth the effort. chamber made for a major improvement in appearance and the The weather for the ‘timed runs’ was MoT was passed with no problem cold but dry and I managed to get the except for a warning that the rear tyre 604 down to 53.98. The GFR was very whilst well treaded was old and difficult to keep on the power valve and beginning to crack. So race preparation I had to ‘clutch it’ round the hairpin. consisted of a new tyre (Dragon) and Best run was 62.02 , a few seconds ahead looking into lowering the gearing. The of several machines of four times the GFR rear sprocket would be a capacity - but 10 times the age ! I also non-starter for making an alloy pattern discovered that the electronic power valve was worth over ten seconds when it failed to function after a wiring hairpin way too tight to give a good connector dropped off. account of itself but it was nice keeping busy with two machines to get 5 runs A week later saw me at Shelsley Walsh. each in a day. The 604 was definitely My first ever chance of a ride at this suffering from clutch slip despite yet most prestigious event ( the oldest another oil change so I was half a motor sport venue in the UK ). The second down on last season - that sub weather the day before had been awful 30 second Barbon run still eludes me. and the course was covered in slime and mud. Strangely those of us who had Eclipse day found me on holiday at never been there before went better on home so I decided it was an auspicious our first ever runs than riders who had occasion upon which to sort the clutch been going there for years. The track out. Bob Wright had supplied me with a slowly dried up by the end of the day new set of friction plates so I was and that situation was soon reversed. gratified to find that three of the old However, I did manage to break the plates had actually broken - just one magic 40 second barrier which I am told clean break. I didn’t get to Wiscombe was no mean achievement back in the because of a bout of bronchitis so the days of George Brough and ‘Super Nero’. proof of the pudding had to wait for the Thought I detected a bit of clutch slip first start at the Loton Park meeting at up the finishing straight on one run - the end of September. Despite rotten more of that later. weather over most of the country the track was virtually dry for the first An absolutely frantic house move was practice. The clutch fed in really nicely followed immediately by a trip to one of and showed no signs of slipping up my all time favourites - Gurston Down. Cedar ‘straight’. A sub 70 second run A very pleasant Spring bank holiday was proof that the overhaul had been weekend as usual although I couldn’t successful. By the first timed (and still better my sub 39 second time of last miraculously dry) run the 604 was season. Once again one climb up the lifting the front wheel under power out steepest part seemed to induce clutch of the last corner in a way that made me slip but only with a hot engine - a realise that the clutch must have been symptom of coolant in the oil perhaps ? going off for some time. A 68.86 was a personal best on the Nordie and I No more meetings until Curborough at reckoned I could find at least another the end of July. Another outing for the half a second. Unfortunately the GFR, and given an almost totally flat threatened rain finally arrived, and not course with only one really slow bit I wanting to provoke my cough any more was able to keep her singing on the by getting cold and wet I decided to call power valve nearly all the way round. In it a day. I was unwise enough to muse to fact she got within 4 seconds (mid 40’s) Robin Sims who had just done a of the 604 and I really enjoyed the ride. personal best on his 350 KTM on how I It was one of those rare years when had ever managed to put in a 67.87 run Barbon and Curborough are not on the up Loton on a 350 Morini. He retorted same weekend and I really should have that I had been young and stupid at the had a look at the 604 clutch before time - tempus fugit ! going to Barbon a week later. The GFR found this hill too steep and the final  Pete Fisher This is the first attempt at what possibly will be road approach is provided by PM Tuning’s a regular feature in THE GeN, a section for in-house developed expansion chamber the automatic twist and go Gilera’s. Hopefully exhaust with different models available for the this section will contain material written by an 125 and 180. They produce a gain in power increasing amount of future members owning within the engines usual rev. range negating automatic Gilera’s. any modifications to the gearing as needed by the Malossi competition parts. There are a Due to the increased popularity of scooters few carb kits available from Taffspeed and there has been growth in this sector of the PM they are based on a 25mm Dellorto which tuning market. Although there has always can be re-worked to 27mm. To make the been tuning products for the traditional Runner faster there are gear kits available, and Vespa such products for the these just increase the final drive ratio thus automatic scooter up until a few years ago turning the increase in power to a higher top were scarce. Now a growing selection of speed, just fitting a gear kit to a standard various products are available with parts Runner would make it have a higher top suitable for Gilera auto’s growing rapidly. speed but acceleration would suffer.

At the moment there are two main specialist A tuned Runner for the road (keeping the scooter tuning companies offering parts and reliability more or less as Gilera intended) service for the Runner. They are Taffspeed would probable have a PM Tuning PM 55 Racing based in South Wales (01633 exhaust, a 25mm Dellorto carb finished of 840450) and PM Tuning based in Lancaster with a cylinder head from a Malossi 172 Kit if (01524 823900). Both companies use its a 180 Runner or a full Malossi 172 Kit if its Malossi and in-house developed parts. a 125. Adding the Malossi head to a standard 180 Runner will increase the compression thus giving more power. The development of tuning parts for the Runner was initiated by the 180 Cup Race series in Italy, this race series used 125 A tuned expensive Runner for the track or for Runner’s fitted with a Malossi 172cc kit (this very fast Road use (fast for a scooter) would kit was initially developed for the Piaggio probably have an extensively worked on Hexagon, the Hexagon dates from 1995 and Malossi 172 Kit, a Malossi exhaust, a bored has basically the same engine as the Runner Dellorto carb from 25mm to 27mm with 125) which on its own gives 17.5bhp at the carbon fibre reeds, a gear kit and a revised rear wheel (a standard Runner 125 gives ignition system. The standard CDI unit on a 14bhp and a standard 180 gives 16.5bhp Runner limits the engine speed to a maximum both at the rear wheel). For more of around 8500 rpm by replacing the CDI unit performance a Malossi Competition together with the ignition stator, flywheel and crankshaft and Malossi Competition exhaust pickups. The engine can then rev. to over is available but the exhaust only suits the 172 9500 rpm where the Malossi exhaust works kit and to a lesser extent the standard 180 best. This would give a competition engine of unless the porting and cylinder head is around 22 - 23bhp at 9500 rpm. modified to Malossi spec. Due to the competition nature of the exhaust most of the As can be seen from the previous paragraphs power gain is in the high rev. range. A fast more power is available from the engines used by Gilera although reliability and Notes. durability will suffer with the more involved · Ignition circuit is completely tuning work. Taffspeed and PM Tuning are still developing tuning options for these separate and self powered. It does engines and some rumours are about that not have any fuses. around 30bhp may be possible. · The cooling fan is permanently live and is protected by the main 25 amp fuse.  Gary Cooper · The starter motor supply is not fused. FUSE EXPLANATION  David Champion Runner 125 / 180

Circuits protected by each fuse.

1. Head light flasher (passing light). 2. Indicators. Brake light. Oil indicator. Electric start relay. Temp gauge. Fuel gauge. Horn. Choke. 3. Headlight relay. Town light. Rear light. 4. Both headlights. ‘compact’ and the new four-stroke ‘leader’ motor for scooters, but not a word about large capacity sports bikes either Honda-powered or with a Gilera-designed unit. Could it be that the TPG take-over proposals have prompted a rethink ? The name Gilera hasn’t been in the news so much for ages and items about the If we do hear anything I will put it on the rumoured big sports bikes and the take web site news and rumours page as soon as over by the Texas Pacific Group featured in possible. the motorcycle press during August.

MCN saw a four cylinder Gilera as being 1909 GILERA 1949 complementary to the Ducati range and TPG keen to develop a competitor for the new MV. Alan Cathcart mused in the Robin Sims found me an interesting article October Motor Cycle Sport about the from the ‘Motor Cycling’ issue of fantasy of a 500 v-twin two stroke twist and September 1 1949 - “A Gilera Comes to go ‘compact’ Gilera. In the November issue Town”. In 1949 a Saturno was an even rarer he reveals that there were rival bids from sight on these shores than today and the American GE Capital and Canadian privately-owned machine sighted by a Bombardier. The Bombardier scenario journalist had to be traced by the ‘usual ended quickly thankfully as it conjures up channels’ in order to arrange a road test. the prospect of Rotax powered Gilera singles. How often have owners of The bike had been ridden the 1260 miles Saturnos, Nordwests or RCs had to put from Italy by the owner (Mr Calzoni) at an ‘experts’ straight about the provenance of average of 40 mph and 63 mpg ! The the ‘bialbero’ motor ? Saturno featured girder forks and Gilera’s own spring frame rear suspension. AC speculates on TPG’s strategy - split Gilera off after completing the range of John Thorpe, the tester, was greatly sports bikes already under development, or impressed by the power of the front brake join Gilera with Ducati to produce and found it easy to reach 80 mph with “ at four-cylinder machines which Ducati least another 10 mph in hand”. The rear would never want to make ? Cathcart says wheel clung to the ground with “leech-like that fours are Gilera’s ‘trademark’ - yet they tenacity” with springing of the never produced a four for the road ! What “float-on-air” variety. No tendency to about singles say I ? Fancy a detuned deviate from line was noticeable in the Ducati super-mono powered Saturno ? steering, although, to one used to ‘teles’ the Saturno’s girders seemed rather harsh. Interesting that have just announced a model called the ‘Raptor’ as I The engine was multi-like in its understand that this name could possibly smoothness but the exhaust note was so have graced the compact. Alison looked at disconcerting that the tester hoped the photos of the new pocket-rockets fervently that the police would turn a through half closed graphic designer’s eyes tolerant ear in his direction ! and said “yes - definitely a bird of prey feel”. Interesting to see how much has changed So, after all the rumours I was expecting in the last 50 years - and how much has momentous announcements at the Milan stayed the same ! show last week. Plenty of news about the